WWF, ragpickers to work towards waste-free Pakistan

Series of workshops will create awareness on plastic pollution among communities

WWF-Pakistan, in collaboration with a beverage company, has formally reached out to waste dealers and ragpickers for the very first time, with an inclusive approach to facilitate key stakeholders in creating a ‘Pakistan without Waste’.

In this regard, WWF-Pakistan is conducting a scoping study on the consumption, collection and disposal pattern of PET bottles, and quantifying the amount of PET being recycled. It will simultaneously be analysing the level of public awareness about plastic pollution.

In pursuance of this study, two interactive stakeholder consultative workshops were held in Karachi and Lahore this week, aimed at building cohesion amongst ragpickers, junk dealers and recyclers in the formal and informal sector. The objective is to identify gaps, while also enhance collection and recycling efficiency. This series of workshops will create awareness on the issue of plastic pollution among communities and educational institutes.

Globally, 8 million tons of plastic is disposed in the oceans on an annual basis. Furthermore, Pakistan has the second largest domestic market for plastics in Southeast Asia after India and it is growing at an annual average rate of 15%.

At the workshop, WWF-Pakistan Energy and Water Climate Director Dr Masood Arshad said it is crucial to start focusing on post-consumer packaging and recycling. “Therefore, it’s immensely important for companies in the public sector, private sector and formal and informal waste sector to collaborate and work together in pursuance of this aim,” he said.

The session concluded on a discussion with junk dealers and scavengers to understand their concerns and establish action items for the next step in developing relations with them.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 5^th, 2019.